Developmental Psychology Chapter 3

Questions and Answers

What are the two main patterns of growth in infants?

Cephalocaudal and proximodistal growth.

What is the average weight of an American baby at birth?

7 ½ pounds

How can parents maximize the connectivity of their child's brain?

By providing early experiences and monitoring brain activity.

What does SIDS stand for?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Signup and view all the answers

To reduce the risk of SIDS, parents should put the baby on their ______ for sleeping.

back Signup and view all the answers

What is the link between sleep and cognitive function in children?

Less sleep is associated with lower cognitive function. Signup and view all the answers

"Breast is Best" is a true statement according to growing consensus.

True Signup and view all the answers

Can you really consider french fries a vegetable?

Technically, yes, but they are not healthy. Signup and view all the answers

What are gross motor skills?

Skills that involve movement of large-scale muscles. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Fantz Visual Perception experiment measure?

The time infants spend analyzing different stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cognitive domain of human development?

How thinking and intellectual processes develop throughout a person's life. Signup and view all the answers

How do infants learn in Piaget's sensorimotor stage?

Through manipulating sensory activities. Signup and view all the answers

What is object permanence in Piaget's theory?

The understanding that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. Signup and view all the answers

How does the game peek-a-boo help develop object permanence?

It teaches that hidden objects still exist. Signup and view all the answers

What is the theory behind operant conditioning?

Behaviors that are rewarded are likely to be repeated. Signup and view all the answers

What is deferred imitation?

Imitating actions after a delay. Signup and view all the answers

Define Piaget's terms: scheme, organization, assimilation, and accommodation.

Scheme: actions that organize knowledge. Organization: structuring information into logical groups. Assimilation: comparing new experiences to existing knowledge. Accommodation: adapting schemes to fit new information. Signup and view all the answers

What would your desire be for or against breastfeeding your baby?

For breastfeeding, due to nutritional benefits. Signup and view all the answers

What specific environmental experiences would you provide for your baby to promote brain wiring?

Proper nutrients and sleep, along with diverse experiences. Signup and view all the answers

List the three domains of development.

Physical development, cognitive development, socioemotional processes. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Growth Patterns in Infants

Cephalocaudal growth: Development starts from the head down, allowing infants to see and communicate before gaining locomotion.
Proximodistal growth: Development begins at the center of the body and moves outward, with skills like sitting emerging before standing and walking.

Average Birth Weight

An American baby typically weighs 7½ pounds at birth.

Brain Development and Early Experiences

fNIRS can track changes in brain activity, linking experiences to cognitive growth.
Early experiences are crucial for brain maturation; more interactions enhance learning and development.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant, often during sleep.
To reduce SIDS risk: place the baby on their back to sleep, use a fan, and avoid bed-sharing.

Sleep and Cognitive Function

Insufficient sleep correlates with decreased cognitive functioning in children, affecting memory, alertness, and information retention.

Breastfeeding Benefits

"Breast is Best" holds true as breastfeeding provides crucial nutrients and immunity, although exceptions exist for the mother's health.

Nutrition and Obesity in Infants

French fries are technically a vegetable but unhealthy due to frying.
The obesity epidemic often begins between 15-24 months, influenced by early dietary habits.

Motor Skill Development

Gross motor skills involve large muscles (walking, running).
Fine motor skills require precision (using utensils, zipping a zipper).

Fantz's Visual Perception Experiment

Demonstrated infants' ability to distinguish stimuli by observing attention to different objects.

Piaget's Cognitive Development

The cognitive domain covers how intellectual processes mature over a lifetime, revealing increased reasoning and problem-solving abilities.

Sensorimotor Learning

Infants learn through sensory manipulation, exploring how objects work in their environment.

Object Permanence

Key concept in Piaget’s theory; infants realize that objects continue to exist even when unseen.
Peek-a-boo reinforces the understanding of object permanence.

Toys for Object Permanence Development

Toys that pop objects up demonstrate that hidden items still exist, aiding comprehension of permanence.

Operant Conditioning Theory

Skinner’s theory suggests rewarded behaviors are likely to recur, while punished behaviors diminish through experiential learning.

Deferred Imitation

Involves imitating observed actions after a delay; children commonly imitate activities from interactive toys and reading behaviors modeled by parents.

Piaget's Key Concepts

Scheme: Framework for organizing knowledge.
Organization: Structuring information logically.
Assimilation: Integrating new experiences with existing schemes.
Accommodation: Modifying schemes to accommodate new information.

Parenting and Brain Development

Providing a nurturing environment with proper nutrition and sleep is essential for cerebral development.
Experiences promoting cognitive, physical, and social growth are vital in forming a successful child.

Three Domains of Development

Physical Development: Changes in height and weight over a lifetime.
Cognitive Development: Evolution of thinking and intelligence, such as learning to read.
Socioemotional Development: Growth in emotional maturity and relationship skills, including empathy throughout life.

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Description

Explore key concepts of growth patterns in infants, specifically cephalocaudal and proximodistal development, through this study guide. Understand how these growth patterns impact infant capabilities and behaviors.